Leadership team
Dannette R. Smith, Commissioner
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
- Biography
Commissioner Smith has spent 30 years serving families, children, the aging population, and people experiencing homelessness. She’s led human services departments across the country, most recently serving nearly five years as the Chief Executive Officer at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services where she led five divisions: Behavioral Health, Children and Family Services, Developmental Disabilities, Medicaid & Long-Term Care, and Public Health.
During her tenure in Nebraska, Smith convened a statewide behavioral health task force; focused on opportunities to improve behavioral health services for adults and children, as well as initiated the exploration of Medicaid utilization as a payer for behavioral health services; and redesigned the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center system to include intensive clinical and therapeutic services in the juvenile justice system. While in Virginia Beach, she collaborated with the Sheriff’s Office to provide enhanced behavioral health services in the jail system and provided strategic oversight in the development of the “First Responders” initiative to provide behavioral health services in the community with the Virginia Beach Police Department as part of their service calls.
The 2023 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA), Commissioner Smith holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Eastern Michigan University and a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois Chicago. She’s also completed the Kennedy School of Government, Child Welfare Executive Leadership Program at Harvard.
Kelly Causey, Deputy Commissioner
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
- Biography
Kelly Causey joined BHA after seven years as president and CEO of the Colorado Children's Campaign, where she advocated for Colorado’s children, and was responsible for the strategic leadership and advancement of the organization’s mission. Prior to that, she served for 18 years as CEO of Mile High Youth Corps, which employed, educated and trained young adults who served on community-based projects and delivered services in 15 counties.
Kelly holds a Ph.D. in health and behavioral sciences from the University of Colorado Denver and a B.A. in psychology from Scripps College. She has been in Colorado for almost 30 years, and in her free time she can be found at a CU game or the theater.
Erin Wester, Deputy Commissioner
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
- Biography
Erin joins BHA after 13 years working for a community mental health center where she managed contracting, quality, compliance and operations. Erin started her career as a family services clinician, where she built her passion and foundation for serving Coloradans. After several years doing direct client care, she became curious about how the system was designed and began taking roles in operational functions using both her clinical and business knowledge. She has demonstrated success managing continuous improvement initiatives for business workflow efficiency and is skilled at directing programs with a dedication to maximizing impact and fostering engagement while delivering patient quality excellence.
Erin holds a master's degree in healthcare administration from Colorado State University Global, a master's degree in marriage and family therapy from Seattle Pacific University, and a bachelor's degree in human development and family studies. She has been in Colorado for 30 years, and in her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, camping and traveling.
Ryan Templeton, Division Director, Policy and External Affairs
Pronouns: He/Him/His
- Biography
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After graduating with degrees in psychology and sociology from Concordia College, in Moorhead, MN, Ryan began his behavioral health career as a clinical case manager at the Mental Health Center of Denver. Ryan worked directly with individuals experiencing co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders as a Certified Addiction Specialist. The eight years of direct clinical services led Ryan to pursue opportunities to drive statewide behavioral health system changes. Since starting at the Colorado Department of Human Services in 2015, Ryan has authored over 25 regulatory changes, led the merger of involuntary substance use and alcohol use disorder laws and proposed, drafted, and advocated for numerous bills to support a behavioral health system in Colorado that is truly accessible for all.
Ryan is dedicated to ensuring that all people in Colorado have access and opportunity to participate and lead in the creation of a behavioral health system in Colorado that will be a national leader in innovative, accessible, and accountable behavioral health services.
Meghan Shelton, Division Director, Intergovernmental & Community Engagement
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
- Biography
Meghan has spent over 20 years working in a variety of behavioral health settings and leadership roles serving children, youth, and families in Colorado. Meghan recognized the need for systems change early in her career and pursued opportunities throughout her career to change the system and make a difference. After 16 years of providing direct services and support, Meghan joined the Colorado Department of Human Services in 2017 where she was granted the opportunity to serve on multiple Advisory Boards and Steering Committees focused on improving the current system and structure of behavioral healthcare for children, youth, and families. Meghan is passionate about ensuring that all voices are heard and all people have access to the services they need when they need them.
Meghan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado, Denver. Meghan is a Colorado Native and enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Marc Condojani, Division Director of Statewide Programs
Pronouns: He/Him/His
- Biography
Marc serves as the Behavioral Health Administration’s Division Director of the Statewide Programs Division. The Statewide Programs Division is responsible for managing contracts for behavioral health treatment and recovery support services for Coloradans. Marc graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a second major in English Teaching. He also became a volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual abuse during this time and found his calling to join the helping professions. He then worked in a homeless shelter, community mental health center and adolescent residential treatment program in New Hampshire while attaining his MSW from the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine.
Marc moved to Colorado in 1997 and began working at Arapahoe House, managing their co-occurring, adolescent residential treatment program before serving on their training and staff development team. He is a licensed clinical social worker and a senior certified addictions specialist in Colorado. He has worked for the State of Colorado since 2002, supporting the evolution of the State’s behavioral health system.
While Marc has maintained his fandom for New England sports teams, he has embraced Colorado as his forever home, enjoying hiking, skiing, and mountain bike riding with his family. Marc also served his community as a volunteer firefighter with the Evergreen Fire Rescue from 2000-2020.
Thomas Miller, Division Director of Quality and Standards
Pronouns: He/Him/His
- Biography
Thom has served in Colorado state government since 2011, helping to ensure quality services are guaranteed to Colorado citizens, across a variety of settings. Prior to this work, Thom led legal advocacy efforts for students in special education and coordinated services on behalf of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in community settings.
Thom brings to the Behavioral Health Administration his passion for social justice and equity blended with the ability to create systems of regulatory oversight that provide safe delivery of services.
Thom earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law, Masters Degree in Sociology from the University of Colorado and Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Bethany College. Thom enjoys free time with his family and actively embraces all types of cycling in the summer and snowboarding in the winter.
Structure
The BHA is and is designed to be the single entity responsible for creating a coordinated, cohesive, and effective behavioral health system in the state. The BHA is led by a Cabinet Level Commissioner with six internal divisions. The BHA is a model of networked government, grounded in a people-first approach. The BHA Advisory Council (BHAAAC) is a central part of the BHA governance model and brings the voice of individuals, family members, providers, local government and other sectors and subject matter experts to inform the BHA. The BHA also works hand in hand with the Cabinet to ensure a seamless and connected approach to behavioral health in Colorado.
The BHA officially launched July 1, 2022. Per legislation, the BHA has two years to build full functional capacity and operations. The BHA is currently operating within the Colorado Department of Human Services until a permanent location is determined by the General Assembly on or before November 1, 2024. Ultimately, the BHA will have approximately 180 staff across its six divisions. The divisions will administer statewide behavioral health programs such as crisis and care coordination as well as programs funded through the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and other state funds. The BHA divisions will also be responsible for cross-agency and cross-sector strategic planning and support to create a coordinated behavioral health system.
The Behavioral Health Administration currently contracts with 18 community mental health centers (CMHCs) for the provision of mental health treatment services to individuals and families who make a low income or are not covered by insurance throughout Colorado. Visit the CMHC web page for more information.
The Behavioral Health Administration currently contracts with Administrative Services Organizations (ASOs) to provide a network of walk-in crisis centers, crisis stabilization centers and respite and mobile crisis services in their regions. See the map on this page.
The Behavioral Health Administration contracts with Managed Service Organizations (MSOs) to manage and monitor substance abuse treatment services for adults and adolescents who are uninsured or under-insured in seven state Sub-State Planning Areas (SSPA). These include: involuntary commitment ,medication-assisted treatment and overdose prevention programs, offender treatment services, Strategic Individualized Remediation Treatment (STIRT) and opioid treatment programs, outpatient and residential treatment services, withdrawal management services, women's treatment services, and the community-based Circle Program. See the map on this page.
As outlined in Colorado House Bill 22-1278 the BHA will consolidate the Administrative Services Organizations (ASO) and Managed Service Organizations (MSO) structure into regional intermediaries that are responsible for the provider network of mental health, substance use and crisis services, and for care coordination. These regional intermediaries will be known as Behavioral Health Administrative Service Organizations (BHASO), and will be contracted by the Behavioral Health Administration.
We are continuing to hire behavioral health leaders as we expand and bring new expertise to the BHA team. Please visit the Careers page to see the latest job postings.